The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has laid charges against Raquel Obras Figueroa and Enriquito Balbin Figueroa under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for allegedly arranging employment contracts for foreign nationals in Ontario to work illegally in Alberta and British Columbia.
The couple has been charged jointly with aiding and abetting foreign nationals to contravene the IRPA, and Raquel Figueroa is further charged with being an unauthorized immigration consultant for a fee. The husband and wife recruiting team allegedly worked for an immigration consulting firm between 2007 and 2010.
Their next appearance is scheduled in Calgary Provincial Court on August 19, 2014.
Quick Facts
- The foreign nationals came to Canada lawfully, either as visitors, students or workers. While in Canada, they came into contact with the Figueroas in search of employment opportunities.
- The Figueroas arranged for unlawful employment as residential health care aides or community support workers in Calgary, and as hotel housekeepers in Edmonton and in Hope, British Columbia.
- The foreign nationals were promised regularized status with Labour Market Opinions and work permits but the Figueroas failed to follow through.
- The vulnerable foreign nationals were further victimized by employers who failed to comply with the terms of the employment contracts and provide the protections to foreign workers required by law.
- An Edmonton employer, Jennilyn Morris, has been charged separately under the IPRA.
- Other employers have not been charged at this time.
Quote
“The CBSA will not rest until those who exploit and victimize foreign nationals for their personal gain are brought before a court of law. Offenders should be warned: the CBSA is investigating each and every tip it receives from the public and is committed to a fulsome investigation, no matter how long that may take, or how complex it may be.”
Kim Scoville
Acting Regional Director General, CBSA Prairie Region
- 30 -
Links
Fact sheet: Criminal Investigations
To Report Border-Related Criminal Activity
Edmonton woman faces human trafficking charges
Contacts
Lisa White
CBSA Media Relations
1-844-245-2272
PrairieMedia@cbsa.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter (@CanBorder), join us on Facebook or visit our YouTube channel.
